Suspension arrangement for rail vehicles

Abstract

A suspension arrangement for rail vehicles, including at least one pair of superimposed elastomeric shock absorbers, including a first shock absorber disposed between a first mandrel and a first bell-shaped member, and a second shock absorber disposed between a second mandrel and a second bell-shaped member. The first bell-shaped member and the second mandrel are disposed between the two shock absorbers and are interconnected in such a way that they can carry out not only a movement in the main direction of shock absorption, but also a pendulum movement about any axis disposed transverse to this main direction of shock absorption.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A multi-stage spring suspension arrangement for rail vehicles having at least two resilient-roll spring means arranged superimposed and having a main spring direction of shock absorption along which a spring deflection exists although permitting an adjustability of the arrangement for shock absorption movement in longitudinal and transverse directions of a vehicle, the improvement in combination therewith comprising: at least one pair of superimposed elastomeric shock absorbers, having bell-shaped and mandrel parts spaced relative to each other as well as spaced relative to said resilient-roll spring means located in axial relationship with conical surfaces of said bell shaped and mandrel parts being parallel and having a first elastomeric shock absorber disposed between a first mandrel and a first bell-shaped member, and a second elastomeric shock absorber disposed between a second mandrel and a second bell-shaped member, with said first bell-shaped member and said second mandrel being disposed between said first and second shock absorbers having an added series arrangement of elasticity via twisting-rotational distortion in said elastomeric shock absorbers via said mandrels collectively having much softer elasticity in the transverse direction than compressive elasticity thereof during linear movement in said main spring direction of shock absorption and being interconnected to carry out not only a movement in the main spring direction of shock absorption, but also additionally to carry out a pendulum movement about any axis disposed transverse to said main spring direction of shock absorption, said first mandrel being embodied independently of said second mandrel to carry out a translatory movement and also a rotational movement since said mandrels are arranged independently of each other to permit shifting displacement thereof as is true also for said first and second bell-shaped members relative to each other although being coupled to permit linear movement in said main spring direction of shock absorption as well as to permit said bell-shaped and mandrel parts being arranged to carry out said pendulum movement around an axis located transverse to the main direction of shock absorption while said first bell-shaped member and said second bell-shaped member are subjected to a parallel shifting displacement upon encountering horizontal forces as well as longitudinal forces during the twisting-rotational distortion permitted by the arrangement via the elastomeric shock absorbers during the shock absorption movement of the vehicle in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle.   
     
     
       2. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 1, in which each of said shock absorbers has a circular, ring-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       3. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 1, in which at least one of said shock absorbers of a given pair of shock absorbers has a transverse cross-sectional shape that is other than circular. 
     
     
       4. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 1, which includes at least two pairs of shock absorbers that operate parallel to one another and are disposed next to one another, with said interconnected second mandrel and first bell-shaped member of a given pair in turn being connected to said interconnected second mandrel and first bell-shaped member of another pair, via a bar, in such a way as to be able to transfer torque. 
     
     
       5. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 4, in which said bar is elastic. 
     
     
       6. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 4, in which said bar is resiliently connected to at least one of said first bell-shaped members. 
     
     
       7. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 1, which includes abutment means to limit the mobility of said interconnected first bell-shaped member in a plane disposed transverse to the main direction of shock absorption. 
     
     
       8. A suspension arrangement in combination according to claim 7, in which said abutment means are resilient.